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As did the quartet of Dattu Bhokanal, Sawarn Singh, Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Singh who stretched every sinew, literally, to take the men’s quadruple rowing gold.
It feels good that Johnson’s timing to win the men’s 1500m would have been good enough to fetch an Olympic gold in 2016 and that Panghal counter-attacked past the reigning Asian and Olympic champion, Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan, on the way to the 49kg gold. This was Panghal’s first win against the opponent in three attempts.
Add to that Burman (hepathlon), Phogat (wrestling 50kg) and Sarnobat (25m women’s pistol) becoming the first Indians to best the rest in Asia in their disciplines, a distinction the women’s squash team narrowly missed, and it can be said that India has arrived as a sporting nation in Asia. It has got everyone, from Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Sachin Tendulkar to India’s 13th president, Pranab Mukherjee, tweeting in praise.
“Proud of our athletes, sportspersons, coaches and supporting crew,” said Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. “Their will to fight and win reflects the attitude of millions of young Indians. A young nation is claiming its rightful place. We have created a system that has started delivering. We are now working to strengthen and refine it. Sportspersons are getting an enabling environment and our greatest joy is that they are making full use of it. As the Prime Minister says ‘Khelo aur Khilo’.”
That is what Kuntal Roy, also a Dronacharya who mentored heptathletes Soma Biswas and Sushmita Singha Roy to medals in Asia, said about Burman, 21, after pointing out that the girl from Jalpaiguri in north Bengal has reached the elite level in the sport. For perspective, consider this: Burman finished first with 6026 points; it would have placed her 23rd in Rio.
India’s performance in Guangzhou was the precursor to its best medal haul in the Olympics two years later. So there is reason to look forward to the 2020 Olympics. “This generation is very bright and the basic difference is due to government supports, the TOP scheme of the government and a few NGOS who have come up with good packages for elite athletes. Schemes like Khelo India have helped sportspersons,” said former world No. 1 shooter, Anjali Bhagwat. Under the TOP (Target Olympic Podium) scheme, athletes are provided financial assistance for their training.
That a number of our gold medallists are young — flagbearer Chopra will be 21 in December, Dutee Chand, who took on the international athletics federation and won before breezing to the 100m and 200m silver, is 22, Phogat is 24, we have a group of young shooters who win international medals regularly and badminton stars who are among the world’s best — gives us hope that they will go faster, higher and stronger. ment on the LOC.
While there is no agenda for the Srinagar meeting, the visitors are expected to discuss forthcoming local body elections. The Centre is keen to hold Panchayat elections as villages will be financially empowered through elected sarpanches. In the long run, this will also create a political alternative in the state traditionally ruled by the Abdullah and Mufti families. State chief secretary BVR Subramanyam will also be present in the Governor’s house meeting.
After the BJP walked out of the coalition with PDP, the Centre wants the Governor to ensure fair play in the strife-torn state, especially when it comes to government jobs. “With a political Governor at the helm, we want merit-based system of selection and good governance to prevail. The message to the public should be that you need not be close to either Hurriyat or Jamait-e-islami to get a job. The solution to this unrest lies in infrastructure development and keeping the militant numbers low in the Valley,” said an Army Commander. incidents. A committee formed by me under the Union home secretary has submitted its report on the basis of which directives have been issued to all state governments.”
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
“We have managed to curtail terrorist violence and check crossborder infiltration but attempts to divide and destabilise India are continuing from Pakistan,” he said.
ON TIES WITH PAKISTAN UNDER IMRAN KHAN
“India has always taken the initiative in fostering good relations with all its neighbours. He [Imran] has played good cricket. But politics is different. I wish Allah gives him strength in his new role.”
ON NRC
“The government has the right to know how many people have come from across the border and are now living [in India] by posing as Indian citizens”.
He said it was proof of the fairness of the process that despite the fact that the names of four million people in Assam had not been included in the NRC’S final draft, no incident of violence had been reported from Assam. All have the right to speak, do whatever they want in a democracy but no one will be allowed to destabilise the country or create violence.”